GWA-Westfield set for semifinal rematch

It will be déjà vu for the George Walton Academy football team this
Friday.

The Bulldogs will meet the same opponent in the same location in the same
round when they travel to Perry to meet the Westfield Hornets, the number
one team from Region 3-AAA, at 8 p.m.

GWA, who enters the game as the only undefeated GISA AAA team at 12-0,
traveled to Westfield last November and fell 22-20. This year, the Bulldogs
have payback on their minds.

"Westfield is the type of team that gives you a lot to think about and a lot
to prepare for," said George Walton Academy head coach Don Williams, whose
team is the No. 1 seed from Region 1-AAA. "They have good speed, and they
return their entire offensive backfield from last year. They run the Wing-T
offense and it hurt us last year with their bootleg plays. They have hurt
several teams with that this season. We'll have to be ready for it."

Williams said he also expects the Hornets to be strong defensively. The GWA
coach said Westfield was able to contain the Bulldogs running attack last
season.

"They have steadily improved all season," Williams said. "They are better
than their record indicates."

The Hornets enter the contest with an 8-4 mark and are fresh off a 35-14
quarterfinal win against Mt. De Sales last week.

The win by Westfield
avenged a regular season loss to the Cavaliers.
Coach Ronnie Jones' Hornets tied for the 3-AAA region title with
Deerfield-Windsor and Southland and it took a mini-playoff to decide the
playoff seedings.

Deerfield-Windsor is also still alive in the playoffs and
will travel to Tattnall Square Friday for the other semifinal contest.

Jones said he is impressed with how well GWA has played this fall.

"They basically have their entire team back from a year ago," Jones said.
"They have so much talent so you can't focus on one player."

Jones said his team played well in its rematch against Mt. De Sales and
would certainly have to play well this Friday to have a chance of advancing
back to the state championship contest.

"We will have to make George Walton move the football the entire field,"
Jones said. "We can't give up big plays. Hopefully, we can create some
turnovers. Their offensive line has the size advantage so we will have to
rely on our quickness. In our game last week, we didn't have turnovers or
penalties and that helped us keep our offensive drives going. One of our
defensive plans is to keep the football away from their offense."

The predetermined brackets allowed Westfield to host this game despite
having a lesser overall record than GWA. Jones said it would be an advantage
for his team.

"You always like to be at home and in your familiar surroundings," the
Westfield coach said. "Of course, against this George Walton team it might
not really matter. We know we will have to play a flawless game. Anything
can happen though. Last year everyone thought Tattnall Square was unbeatable
and they lost in the playoffs (to George Walton)."

Williams, as he has done all season, is not overlooking Westfield.

"We have to be ready to play our best again," Williams said. "It is going to
be a tough game just like it was when we went down there last year. We know
anything can happen at this point."